News Update:
A most recent poll conducted by Rolling Stone website among its readers has once more confirmed that Michael Jackson is UNBEATABLE!
source: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/rolling-stone-readers-pick-their-10-favorite-dancing-musicians
Showing posts with label MJ news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MJ news. Show all posts
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Topmost Favourite Dancing Musician
source: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/rolling-stone-readers-pick-their-10-favorite-dancing-musicians
Monday, June 27, 2011
Breaking News: First MJ Statue in Russia Unveiled!
The first Russian Michael Jackson monument was unveiled in Yekaterinburg last June 25th, 2011.
Members of the Russian fans club of Michael Jackson «INVINCIBLE» initiated the creation of the monument a year ago.
The statue was set up in the pedestrian Vainer’s Street and is made of bronze in the same style as the other sculptures in the alley. The statue is visibly taller than a person's height; it is a full body figure of the King of Pop, in one of his iconic poses, with a hat pulled down over his bent head covering his face partially.
Monday, June 20, 2011
HIStory: Newspaper Clippings
"Michael has a natural understanding and compassion about the feelings that accompany living with health problems."
--- from Dream Street
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Another HIStory today: "100 percent fan made" by fans from all over the world
June 14, 2011: Exclusive World Premiere of Michael Jackson's "Behind the Mask"
The new Michael Jackson video for 'Behind The Mask' features footage from fan submitted clips in response to the call put out by the Estate of Michael Jackson and Sony Music last March.
Clips came in from 103 countries, and director Dannis Liu has whittled them down to the best 1600 submissions (including, a press release says, from 50 kids and 36 animals).
Here's what Dannis Liu said in the press release;
"This has been the most exciting and fun project I think I've ever been involved in. It's been such a privilege, and was incredibly moving to see so many people from all over the world join as one, their creative voices, dance and musical talents bound together by Michael Jackson's spirit and incomparable artistry. We received submissions from the Sahara Desert to Venice Beach, from mountaintops to suburban backyards, with some shots featuring well over one hundred people apiece. All who participated delivered brilliantly.'
Thursday, June 9, 2011
News Update: A special issue of MJJMAGAZINE is being released worldwide!
Never-before-seen Michael Jackson’s photos revealed
originally posted at WebWire
Fifteen years ago Michael Jackson played a memorable one-off concert in Brunei on July 16th, 1996, to celebrate His Majesty Hassanal Bolkiah’s 50th birthday. The Sultan arranged this private show in his own personal ’playground-courtyard’ (Jerudong Park Garden, Bandar Seri Begawan) inviting 4.000 special guests only, making the event very rare and exclusive in the mind of every Michael Jackson fan and collector.
After 15 long years, a special issue of MJJMAGAZINE is being released worldwide featuring never-before-seen official photos of the rehearsals, the private visits with the Royal Family and the show itself. All the material comes from the MJJ Productions archives where it was treasured since then. Dozens of selected pictures, amongst hundreds available, are presented to the readers together with comprehensive captions revealing an intimate King of Pop, meeting and entertaining some of his best friends.
"We felt this anniversary was the right time to unveil this precious material; the 15th is also known as the crystal recurrence and we really wanted to crystallize this event by paying tribute to the only artist who was able to make you fly by walking on the moon", said magazine editor.
’MJJMAGAZINE - The Michael Jackson Magazine’ (ISSN # 1755-7410) reaches today thousands of fellow MJ fans in every corner of the planet making it an undeniable successful monothematic publication.
MJJMAGAZINE is available at MJJSHOP.COM
source: http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=139046
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Breaking News:MICHAEL JACKSON HITS #1
“HOLLYWOOD TONIGHT” TOPS BILLBOARD DANCE CLUB CHART THIS WEEK
New York, NY – The King of Pop crowns another chart this week as the hit song “Hollywood Tonight” lands at #1 on the Billboard Dance Club Chart. This is Michael Jackson’s eighth #1 Billboard Dance Club hit which puts him on the top of the list for most #1’s by a male artist. “Hollywood Tonight” joins Michael’s other number one dance hits including “Thriller,” “Bad,” “The Way You Make Me Feel,” and “Scream” which was his last #1 from sixteen years ago.
“Hollywood Tonight,” which USA TODAY said, “pulsates with Billy Jean-esque energy,” was written by Michael Jackson and Brad Buxer and the track was produced by Teddy Riley, Michael Jackson with Theron “Neff-U” Feemster as co-producer.
The striking video for the song features the work of award-winning director Wayne Isham, the genius of superstar choreographers Rich and Tone Talauega and stars the undiscovered talent of dancer Sofia Boutella. The clip can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjGtTUfPcI4&hd=1
MICHAEL, featuring “Hollywood Tonight,” is the unique collection of songs featuring Michael’s performances completed posthumously and released in December by the Michael Jackson Estate and Sony Music. MICHAEL was the #1 global album upon its release in December and has shipped over 3 million units worldwide making it one of the biggest albums of 2010. The album’s success continues to underscore Michael’s importance as a global icon and superstar, transcending cultures and languages.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
It's the difference between incredibly good and astonishingly brilliant...
Review of Thriller Live show
Tribute show taps into the genius of Jackson
by Lesley Stones
"It ain't Michael, but Thriller Live makes you miss him more than ever.
It's only when other people try to replicate Michael Jackson that you realise what a total genius he was.
It's the difference between incredibly good and astonishingly brilliant, and that's highlighted in Thriller Live now playing at Montecasino. It's a great fun, frivolous show where hit after memorable hit is belted out by an assortment of characters all giving their different interpretation of the King of Pop.
We start with a mini-Michael in the Jackson Five, with young Jordan Bratton making a convincing surrogate. Then we get a female Michael portrayed by Zoe Birkett, giving an exuberant performance with boobs bursting out and more crotch-grabbing moves than even the male Michaels manage.
Perhaps the most important thing about a tribute show is to sound like the original, and they definitely do.
Yet the aura and charisma of the real Michael is lacking, partly because the choreography pushes no boundaries. Thriller Live starts a fraction slowly, and in the first half the highlight were the breakdancers, lending some flashes of brilliance to the dance routines.
The choreography grows far more exciting in the second half, especially when Ricko Baird makes a belated entry. Baird has those Michael moves perfected after being a front dancer on one of his tours, and he's absolutely mesmerising. He's got the looks, moves and magnetism to perform Smooth Criminal and Billie Jean superbly. And that Moonwalking trick is just astonishing.
The presentation is impressive, with acres of sparkly costumes, an excellent live band behind sliding doors, and lighting panels showing old photos and flashing dancers. There's no storyline as such, just a few spoken sentences and statistics flashing on the screens as we follow the time line of his music.
Thriller finally comes amid a series of expected encores, with Baird dressed exactly like Michael in the original hair-raising video. The ghouls shuffling onto stage look pretty wicked too.
Yet their dancing was a little too lithe for the long dead, making it a far tamer version than the original. Which is a good thing really, so you can sleep that night with a head full of great tunes rather than fiendish graveyard nightmares.
But forget all this analysis. Go prepared to sing and dance, clap and whoop and party, and you'll have a fabulous evening."
Thriller Lives runs at Montecasino's Teatro until September 5, then at Cape Town's Grand West Arena from September 9 to 12.
It's only when other people try to replicate Michael Jackson that you realise what a total genius he was.
It's the difference between incredibly good and astonishingly brilliant, and that's highlighted in Thriller Live now playing at Montecasino. It's a great fun, frivolous show where hit after memorable hit is belted out by an assortment of characters all giving their different interpretation of the King of Pop.
We start with a mini-Michael in the Jackson Five, with young Jordan Bratton making a convincing surrogate. Then we get a female Michael portrayed by Zoe Birkett, giving an exuberant performance with boobs bursting out and more crotch-grabbing moves than even the male Michaels manage.
Perhaps the most important thing about a tribute show is to sound like the original, and they definitely do.
Yet the aura and charisma of the real Michael is lacking, partly because the choreography pushes no boundaries. Thriller Live starts a fraction slowly, and in the first half the highlight were the breakdancers, lending some flashes of brilliance to the dance routines.
The choreography grows far more exciting in the second half, especially when Ricko Baird makes a belated entry. Baird has those Michael moves perfected after being a front dancer on one of his tours, and he's absolutely mesmerising. He's got the looks, moves and magnetism to perform Smooth Criminal and Billie Jean superbly. And that Moonwalking trick is just astonishing.
The presentation is impressive, with acres of sparkly costumes, an excellent live band behind sliding doors, and lighting panels showing old photos and flashing dancers. There's no storyline as such, just a few spoken sentences and statistics flashing on the screens as we follow the time line of his music.
Thriller finally comes amid a series of expected encores, with Baird dressed exactly like Michael in the original hair-raising video. The ghouls shuffling onto stage look pretty wicked too.
Yet their dancing was a little too lithe for the long dead, making it a far tamer version than the original. Which is a good thing really, so you can sleep that night with a head full of great tunes rather than fiendish graveyard nightmares.
But forget all this analysis. Go prepared to sing and dance, clap and whoop and party, and you'll have a fabulous evening."
Thriller Lives runs at Montecasino's Teatro until September 5, then at Cape Town's Grand West Arena from September 9 to 12.
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article source: http://www.artlink.co.za/news_article.htm?contentID=25280
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
"All In Your Name"
The official website of Barry Gibb has released this snippet of Michael Jackson and Barry Gibb recording their duet song entitled "All In Your Name".
"Recorded & Filmed at Middle Ear Studios in December 2002. All footage was shot by Ashley Gibb on a high 8 camera. There is over 2 hours of footage."
And here's some statement from Barry Gibb himself;
Michael Jackson and I were the dearest of friends, thats simply what it was. We gravitated towards the same kind of music and we loved collaborating and he was the easiest person to write with. The more we got to know each other the more those ideas entwined and it all came to this song " All in Your Name".
"All in Your Name" is infact the message that Michael wanted to send out to all of his fans all over the World that he did it all for them and for the pure love of music. I hope and pray that we all get to hear it in its entirety. This experience I will treasure forever.
--- Barry Gibb
Saturday, May 7, 2011
"You Are Not Alone Michael"
This is an addendum to a previous posting, You Are Not Alone Michael: Through.A Brother's Eyes published on March 19, 2011, a news article stating that Jermaine Jackson was to write a book on Michael; here's the cover of the book as released by TouchstoneBooks at Jermaine's Twitpic page;
Note: I just want to clarify that I'm only posting this news update for general information...
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Hundreds of school students dance to Michael Jackson
This is a recent news article from China Org website:
By Keen Zhang from China.org.cn dated April 13, 2011
A primary school in China has given up gymnastics in favor of mass performances of Michael Jackson dance routines.
A primary school in China has given up gymnastics in favor of mass performances of Michael Jackson dance routines.
More than 700 students assemble every day in the playgrounds of Duping primary school in a remote corner of south west China for the jaw-dropping performances.
They dance to Jackson's hit Dangerous and imitate the routines from Jackson's classic performance at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1995.
"We used to do gymnastics but the students said they wanted something more modern, so one of the teachers suggested this," Headmaster Wan Lu, 36, explained, "It's fun and also very good exercise for them. They do other routines but this one is their favorite."
Photos of the performances surfaced on the Internet around a week ago. But a full length video released yesterday quickly went viral.
Many internet users, including famous film director Jia Zhangke, twittered on Weibo.com, Sina's microblogging site, to express support for the school's creative approach. But some bloggers wondered whether some of Jackson's more suggestive moves were suitable for children, and others worried the kids were being used as part of a publicity stunt.
The mass performances are believed to have been inspired by previous internet footage of prisoners in the Philippines performing Jackson's dance routine from Thriller.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
This Is Him (Part 1)
Here's an excerpt of the news article by Oumelkheir Djenaidi published at France Today Magazine website on August 6, 2009;
... [ ]
"I stare at people when I walk down the street," the artist admits. For Seckler, 35, his eyes play as important a role in art as his hands. Since July 25, exactly a month after Michael Jackson's death, Seckler's eyes have been trained on roughly 50 photos of the star encircling his perch in front of the museum. "One photograph wouldn't allow me to recreate the third dimension," the artist explains. "[Jackson] also went through such a metamorphosis that it's difficult to capture him correctly. I have concentrated on the period when I think he was the most beautiful, between the albums Thriller and Bad."
Like many who come to watch him work, Seckler is an MJ fan. "I wanted to communicate with his fans," he says, "both tourists and Parisians. To create a representation of such an enormous public figure, I wanted to be in contact with the public." The artist adds: "I saw the King of Pop at the Parc des Princes in 1988. I had posters of him all over my room in the 80s."
... [ ]
In the meantime, every morning Mr. Seckler places his 40 kilo sculpture in front of the Centre Pompidou. He hopes to finish the piece by the end of this week, when it will be moved to Dorothy's Gallery for the exhibit "Art and Music, Tribute to Michael Jackson." Seckler says he will send photos of the piece to the Jackson family, and offer to make a version of the piece for them in bronze.
source: http://www.francetoday.com/articles/2009/08/06/seckler_and_jackson.html
SECKLER AND JACKSON
A FRENCH ARTIST SCULPTS AN AMERICAN LEGEND
... [ ]
"I stare at people when I walk down the street," the artist admits. For Seckler, 35, his eyes play as important a role in art as his hands. Since July 25, exactly a month after Michael Jackson's death, Seckler's eyes have been trained on roughly 50 photos of the star encircling his perch in front of the museum. "One photograph wouldn't allow me to recreate the third dimension," the artist explains. "[Jackson] also went through such a metamorphosis that it's difficult to capture him correctly. I have concentrated on the period when I think he was the most beautiful, between the albums Thriller and Bad."
Like many who come to watch him work, Seckler is an MJ fan. "I wanted to communicate with his fans," he says, "both tourists and Parisians. To create a representation of such an enormous public figure, I wanted to be in contact with the public." The artist adds: "I saw the King of Pop at the Parc des Princes in 1988. I had posters of him all over my room in the 80s."
... [ ]
In the meantime, every morning Mr. Seckler places his 40 kilo sculpture in front of the Centre Pompidou. He hopes to finish the piece by the end of this week, when it will be moved to Dorothy's Gallery for the exhibit "Art and Music, Tribute to Michael Jackson." Seckler says he will send photos of the piece to the Jackson family, and offer to make a version of the piece for them in bronze.
source: http://www.francetoday.com/articles/2009/08/06/seckler_and_jackson.html
Jean-Baptiste Seckler
And a big THANK YOU! to my dear friend Laura for sharing this video clip at her MJ page, "Michael Jackson: What About The Man" at facebook ;)
Here's another related clip of Mr. Seckler working on the sculpture; I don't understand though what he was saying (in French), but nevertheless, it's still heartwarming to see him in action :)
For additional reading and/or more pictures, here's the link of another related news article; http://www.examiner.com/acting-in-national/a-tribute-clay-to-michael-jackson
Saturday, April 2, 2011
More update on MJ's kids
Walking tall: Michael Jackson's children Paris and Blanket are growing up fast
They have mostly stayed out of the spotlight since their father's tragic death in 2009.
But when Michael Jackson's children stepped out yesterday to visit a Beverly Hills toy store, many may not have even recognised them.
The two children appear to have had a massive growth spurt in the two and a half years since their father's death.
Blanket, who now nine years old, in particular is looking more and more like his father everyday.
Blanket, otherwise known as Prince Michael II, appeared a far-cry from the little boy the world saw on stage at Michael's memorial.
Yesterday, as he walked side-by-side along the street with his sister, he was almost a foot taller and had more distinct features reminiscent of his late father.
Paris too has also grown to significant proportions, clearly inheriting the height gene from her father, who was a statuesque 5'11.
The 12-year-old was almost the same height as LaToya Jackson, Michael's sister, who accompanied the children to the store.
She also displayed more distinct features of her mother Debbie Rowe, with her angular jaw and bright blue eyes.
Both children wore Michael Jackson t-shirt's in memory of their beloved father.
They appeared in good spirits alongside their aunt LaToya.
The 54-year-old was relatively dressed down in a pair of black trousers, a bejewelled Ferrari shirt and glittery over the knee stiletto boots.
They were also joined by a body guard who kept a close eye on the trio as they perused the aisles and picked out some toys.
Note: For another news update on MJ's kids, please see April 1, 2011 posting "Michael Jackson's Kids Support Japan" at http://roxychel-allaboutmj.blogspot.com/2011/04/michael-jacksons-kids-support-japan.html
Friday, April 1, 2011
Michael Jackson's Kids Support Japan Relief
From Faded Youth site;
Michael Jackson‘s spirit was alive and well as his kids Blanket, Paris and Prince Jackson hit up the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills today (March 31).
Joined by their aunt La Toya Jackson, the trio were on hand to support Japan Relief for the American Red Cross at the GBK Gift Lounge.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
‘You Are Not Alone Michael: Through A Brother’s Eyes'
Here's a recent news article from the CMUwebsite;
Jermaine Jackson to write a book about Michael
Jermaine Jackson has announced that he will publish a book about his brother Michael, which he hopes will give an insight into the singer’s life. Entitled ‘You Are Not Alone: Michael, Through A Brother’s Eyes’, the book is due to be published in the autumn by Simon & Schuster imprint Touchstone in the US and HarperCollins in the UK.
Jackson said in a statement: “This book commemorates Michael’s life. The forthcoming trial of Dr Murray surrounds Michael’s death, but none of us wish for those proceedings to stand as the final word on how he is remembered. We want the world to remember his truth, his legacy, and some wonderful memories we shared as brothers, as a family. We don’t want Michael’s life to be an eternal mystery. I have read so much about what people claim to know about Michael, and I’ve heard countless people talk as if they knew him better than his own family. This book’s blood is thicker and truer than water. It is about what really happened and who he really was, representing the things he never got the chance to say, based on what we know, based on what he shared”.
Touchstone Vice President Stacy Creamer added: “As a lifelong fan of Michael Jackson and of Jermaine Jackson I am thrilled to be publishing ‘You Are Not Alone’. Jermaine’s book will offer a unique view of the real Michael Jackson, a perspective only a very few people could possibly have. As his brother and close confidante since they were children, Jermaine can explain Michael in a way that, in life, Michael was never able to articulate himself”.
Fellow Jackson siblings Janet and LaToya also have books due out this year.
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Thursday, March 17, 2011
Michael Jackson to be immortalised at Fulham
ENGLISH Premier League club Fulham confirmed Wednesday that it plans to build a commemorative statue of the late Michael Jackson at Craven Cottage at the behest of chairman Mohamed Al Fayed.
Al Fayed, who was a close friend of Jackson, commissioned a statue in memory of the pop icon following his death in 2009.
The Fulham chief originally planned to erect it outside his Harrods store in downtown London, but following the sale of the landmark store, he decided it should be situated at Craven Cottage.
The statue, depicting Jackson in one of his most iconic poses, will stand on the banks of the River Thames, adjacent to the stadium's Riverside and Hammersmith stands.
The statue will be unveiled on Sunday April 3 before the Cottagers' home game against Blackpool.
Jackson visited Craven Cottage as a guest of Al Fayed, who told his club's official website: "Michael Jackson was truly a legend, a term used too often in this modern world saturated in the hyperbole surrounding celebrity.
"He was my friend, a man with whom I shared many happy memories and who died a tragic and untimely death. He left behind a legacy of music so vast it takes one's breath away; from a precocious talent to an ingenuity and groundbreaking modernity that shall never be repeated."
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Adrian Grant: On keeping the Michael Jackson legacy alive
'Thriller Live' creator, Adrian Grant recently spoke to the Liverpool Echo about the show and keeping Michael Jackson's legacy alive.
“It’s a feelgood show, it’s like a concert, so if the audience can get behind it then obviously the cast can respond to that and get energy from them. And it’s always a good crowd down at the Empire, very lively.”
Grant came up with the original concept for the show after more than 10 years of organizing an MJ fan day in London. And before that, he launched a Michael Jackson fanzine in the 1980's that soared from an initial 200 copies to 25,000 subscribers in just two years!
But Grant admits that he was initially more of a Prince fan.
“I was aware of him in the Jacksons and so forth, in the late 70s, but I didn’t really become a fan of his music until the THRILLER album when I saw him moonwalk for the first time. I thought ‘wow, that’s incredible!’ And then I really took an interest in his music. There were a lot of girls at school who were crazy about him and I thought ‘nah,’ I was a bit of a Prince fan. But then I saw him perform and he was unbelievable on stage.”
One of the original readers of that fanzine Grant created was the man himself and in 1990 Jackson invited Grant to Los Angeles to meet him in the studio as he recorded the DANGEROUS album.
Recalling that meeting, Grant says, “I didn’t know what to expect, but as soon as he walked into the studio, he was very welcoming, very down to earth, not at all like the press perceived him to be. He was just like a normal guy who was great at his job, singing and working hard in the studio and then at the end of the day he invited me to his ranch for lunch. That’s what I remember about him most. Just being a very kind, generous person.”
Jackson kept tabs on what Grant was up to and in 2001 he even attended the 10th Anniversary of the MJ fan day in London.
“He came and watched it from the corner of the stage. We had to build him a little tent. He came on stage afterwards and spoke to the fans, who went crazy and he said how much he loved the show. And it was then I realized that perhaps this could become a bigger type of production, and I saw 'We Will Rock You,' the Queen show, which gave me the idea for 'Thriller Live.'”
It's a concept that has proven hugely successful with fans both old and new. Grant says he's just happy to do his part to continue the legacy of the music legend. So far, one million people in 20 countries have seen 'Thriller Live.'
“That was always my goal,” Grant says. “To bring Michael’s music to the masses via a touring production.”
Thriller Live is at the Empire from April 11-16.
Adrian Grant with Michael Jackson
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